He was born in
Kungsör, between Arboga and Eskilstuna at
Lake Mälaren, Sweden, where he grew up and went to school. In 1864 Hellqvist started to study art at the
Swedish Royal Academy of Fine Arts in
Stockholm, and in 1875 he was awarded the Royal Academy's highest prize for his painting " Gustav Vasa accuses Peder Sunnanväder and Mäster Knut in front of the chapter in Västerås" Swedish:
Gustav Vasa anklagar Peder Sunnanväder och Mäster Knut inför domkapitlet i Västerås. In 1889 Hellqvist received treatment for his disease and he was ordered on a diet. In 1890 it was announced that Hellqvist's studio-objects were to be sold. Probably the most famous photograph of his studio was taken at the same time, which shows how a historical painter's studio looked like during the late 19th century. From March 1889 he stayed in a
mental hospital in
Munich, and he died there on 19 November 1890 at the age of 38. He was buried in Munich. ==Works==